Hard shell pecan enthusiasts know that these nuts have a discernibly sweeter taste than their shelled counterparts. These hard shell Stuart pecans make the perfect snack, punctuated with a satisfying “CRACK!”

How to Shell Hard Pecans

First, sort the pecans: Sort and examine the pecans. If, by chance, any pecans are cracked or damaged, throw them away. You should also throw away any nut shells that rattle, as they have likely gone bad.

Choose your tools: A classic nutcracker, a specialized pecan cracker or a combination of side cutters and pliers are all good options for cracking and shelling pecans. Specialized pecan crackers allow you to crack and shell without cutting into any of the nut’s meat. No tools on hand? You could try gently squeezing two nuts against each other in order to crack the shell.

Boil the pecans: This is one option for prepping to shell pecans and some believe boiling the pecans before shelling makes the process much easier. If you decide to go with this option, boil the pecans in a large pot for 10-15 minutes. Allow the pecans to cool before starting the cracking process.

Get cracking: As cracking and shelling pecans can be a messy process, we suggest setting up a work area with newspaper or in an outdoor space.